Electrically coin-operated chair



y 8, 1952 J. D. FOWLER ET AL 2,602,492

ELECTRICALLY COIN'OPERATED CHAIR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 25, 1946 luu y 3, 1952 J. D. FOWLER ET AL ELECTRICALLY COIN-OPERATED CHAIR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 25, 1946 JEFFERSON 1 the deposit of g a coin Patented July 8, 1952 l 1 2,602,492 ELECTRICALLY COIN-OPERATED CHAIR Jefferson D.,Fowler and Ralph A. Vaughn,

Los Angeles, Calif.

7 Application March 25,

1946, Serial No. 656,850

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-188) g 1 This invention relates to chairs, ticularly to a chair having means for preventing access to, and use of the chair except under certain prearranged conditions.

, In general, the chair is .ntendedfor use in such establishments as shine parlors, barber shops, and any other place where a service is rendered to the occupant of the seat in exchange for a monetary consideration. The chair comprises broadly a seat, a hinged cover for the seat movable between a closed position in which it prevents access to the seat and an open position in which it permits access to the seatand also serves as a back rest for the occupant of the chair, means for locking the cover .inopen and closed positions, and means for moving the cover be'tweenits open and closed positions. The looking means for maintaining the cover closed is controlled bycoin operated means such as a coin controlled electric switch'so thatthe chair can be used. only after a coin or a certain combination of coins has operator, that is, the shine boy or barber, would be "the tip.

and more par been deposited. Means are also provided for closing the cover after the ic'scordingly, it is an objectoilthe invention to provide a chair to which access is prevented except after predetermined conditions such as have been fulfilled.

Another object of theinve'ntion is to provide a "chair having a fmovable cover which, when in closed position, prevents access .to the chair, and

when in open-position not only permits access to the chair seat but also serves asa' back rest I for-the occupantof the seat. y v

"Still another object of the inventionisto pro-,

vide a chair of thetype-referred .to in the preof the chair while ceding object andwhich includes means, for

automatically unlocking and moving;the cover to the open position upon th e, occur rence of a predetermined event such as the deposit of a,

coin, and for thereafter closing the cover after the occupant leave's'the seat. f

A" further objectiof the invention the provision of electrical: operating means for. accomplishing the above objects of the invention.

1 resides These and other objects or theinvention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 15 a perspective theco'ver close'cl view of j the chair with Fig.2 is a perspective view of the chair with the cover open; I

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the chair showing the operating means therefor; h

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic electrical circuit for operating the chair; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the cover latched in open position and showing the motor and cable mechanism.

In the drawings is shown a preferred 'embodiment of the invention as applied to shoeshine chairs. It is to be understood that the invention may be adapted to other types of chairs by slight changes.

I2. A drawer portion Hand a coin arm.

on which are pivsupports a pair of brackets l5 As best shownin otally mounted 'footrests l6. Fig. 3, the footrests are position. The footrests are weighted in the heel portion ,at I! so that they automatically return to their horizontal operating position as. soon as they are released by movement of thecover to its open position.

A cover I8 is pivoted at 19 to the body-l0 and comprises a backportion 20 suitably cushioned internally at 21 and a top or canopy-portion '22 similarly cushioned at '23. When in closed posi- I -tion, the back po'rtionill of the'cover lies iml2 and the top portion mediately above the seat 22 of the cover encloses When in open position, the cover forms a back the front of thechair. the back portion 20 pi rest for the occupant canopy over the occupant. may be provided in the cover in proximity ,to windows 21 in the cover ILatch recei-ving openings 28 and 29 cooperate with latches the body portion! of the chair and operable resiliently urged into latching a beveled upper v front edge, so that they a cainm'ed out of the way by movementfofjt A floor orstep portion at the front ofthe chair freeto be rotated to a near vertical position by movement of the cover, which will be described presently, to its closed the top portion 22- forms a Suitable lights 25.

to provide light for the. v occupant and may be controlled by switches (not. shown) closed by opening of the cover, I

are pro;- videdlin the cover as shown in Figs. 3 and'5 to 30 'and3l mounted on" the latch opening 28 or 29 is in alignment with the corresponding latch, the latch automatically slides into engagement with the opening to retain the cover in the open position in the case of latch 3| or in closed position in the case of latch 30. When the solenoid 30a or 3Ia for operating one of the latches 30 or 3! is energized, it withdraws the latch from the corresponding opening 29, 36 and frees the cover for movement away from the position in which it had been latched prior to operating of the solenoid. The operation of solenoids 30a, 31a. will bediscussed more fully presently in the discussion of the electric operating circuit shown in Fig. 4.

The cover 20 is moved between its open and closed positions by a reversible electric motor 35 which rotates a spindle 36 about which is wound a cord or cable 31. The cable passes over suitable pulleys 38 and is attached at its ends to an arm 40 fixed to the cover 20 so that movement of the cable eifects movement of the arm 40 and thereby movement of cover 20. A suitable weight 4| may be provided on the arm 40 to insure tight closing of the cover 20'. It is obvious that rotation of spindle 36 in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 3 will open the cover while rotation in the direction of arrow B will close. the cover.

An electrical circuit for operating the chair is shown in Fig. 4 but it is to be understood that numerous modifications of this circuit can be made without departing from the inventive concept.

In Fig. 4, a source of current 59 provides power to operate the mechanism and a master switch is placed in the circuit in series with the current. source so that the entire device can be controlled by the proprietor as at the opening and closing of business. Switch 5| may be a gang switch controlling all of the chairs in the establishment or a control panel may be provided having a.'switch 5| for each chair.

Thev remainder of the circuit may mo st con veniently be described as two circuits, an opening circuit for running motor 35 in direction A to open the cover, and a closing circuit to run motor 35 indirection B to close the cover.

The opening circuit includes a switch 55 which 7 is actuated by spring 55a and by cover 20 so that the switch is closed by movement of the cover to closed position and is opened by spring 55a when the cover is opened. Conventional means such as a dashpot (not shown) is providedfor delaying opening of switch 55. to ensure that the cover is opened, completely before the switch opens and.

disables .the motor operating circuit. If desired, positive meansv actuated by cover 20 may be. pro.-

vided to open switch 55 when the cover reaches open position.

The opening circuit further includes a motor operating switch 56 which is normally open and which-is closed by energization of a solenoid 51 The solenoid 5lis controlled by a coin controlled switch 58 of any conventional type wherein a switch is closed when a coin is inserted in the device. Also in the circuitwith solenoid 5'! is latch operatingsolenoid 3004 so that the solenoid 30a is energized and latch3i7 withdrawn when solenoid 51 is energized. 7

If desired, a counter 59" of any conventional type may be providedso as to be operated by I coi'n' operated switch58. A bypass switch GO'may be, provided so that the proprietor can open the chair, without depositing a coin for'test purposes or to permit use of the chair'by an occupant who in the back cushion 2|.

was called away before completion of his shine.

A switch 6! may be provided for operation by solenoid 51 along with switch 56, and when closed sets into operation any suitable timer which will inform the proprietor when the chair has been open an unusually extended length of time.

Thus, with switch 55 closed by the cover 20 being: in closed position, a coin dropped into switch 58, or operation of switch 60, energizes solenoids 51 and 30a. Solenoid 30a withdraws latch 30 and solenoid 5'! closes switch 56 setting motor 35'intooperation in the direction of arrow A to open the top.

The closing circuit includes a switch 65 operated by the cover 20 and spring 55a so that the switch isopen when the cover 20 is closed and is closed by spring 5511 when the cover is opened. This switch serves when open to disable the entire closing circuit and, when closed by spring 55a on opening of the cover 20; to permit operation of theclcsing circuit.

The closing circuit further includes a switch 66 operated by a solenoid 61 so that switch the closed when the solenoid is energized and is opened by suitable resilient means (not shown) when the solenoid is not energized.

The solenoid 61, preferably of the conventional delayed operating type, is operated by a circuit which includes, in series connection, switch 65;

latch solenoid 3 l a, and a series of switches 68; 69; I 10, and H positioned respectively one in, each arm cushion, one in the seat cushion l2; and one Switches 68, 69, 10, and 1| are normally-closed switches and are movable" by the body pressure of the occupant of the seat to open'position. By means of these switches, the circuit for operating solenoid 61 is maintainedopen as long as the body or an arm of the'occu pant presses against any one of the cushions and thereby opens th switch in that cushion. When the occupant leaves the chair, all of the cushion switches close and, switch 65 being closed bythe cover being open; solenoid 61 is energized. After the delay provided in solenoid 61 to give the occupant adequate time to leave'thechair, switch 66 is closedandthe motor operated to close the cover. Inasmuch as-latch solenoid 3 la'is in series withsolenoid 61, the latch 3| is withdrawn by solenoid 3 la prior to the closing of switch 66 and operation of motor 35 to close the cover.

If desired, switches 68, 69, 10-, and H- may be rearranged in the circuit so that only one switch; being open would not maintain the cover open;

'but a preselected combination of switches such as the seat switch and one arm switch would have to be open to maintain, the cover opening circuit disabled. As shown in Fig. .5, a dashpot 8a" or. other].

'bufl'er mechanism may be provided to: delay the rangement shown. in Fig. Bandthrougharm-M moves cover 20 to its open retained by latch 3|. After a short delay, switch timer into operation and position where-it. is l ,by the occupant for long as the chair is occupied to prevent opera- 55 is opened by spring 55a disabling the opening circuit.

The opening of switch 55 closes switch of the closing circuit after a short delay which gives the customer time to position himself in the seat. When the occupant is in the seat, one or more of switches 68, 69, 10, H is opened by pressure of the body or arms of the occupant on the cushions, thereby opening the operating circuit of solenoid 61.

After the shine is completed and the customer steps down from the chair, the release of the pressure on the cushions permits springs 08, B9, 10, II to close and, switch 65 being closed as heretofore described, solenoids 61 and'3la. are energized.

Solenoid 3m withdraws latch 3| which maintained the cover open and solenoid 61 closes switch 66 after a short delay provided for safety purposes and the closing circuit is completed to run motor and rotate spindle 36 in direction B in Fig. 3, thereby closing the cover.

When the cover reaches the closed position, it opens switch 65 de-energizing motor 35, and

closes switch 55, placing the opening circuit in w readiness. Latch 30 engages opening 28 in the cover and the cover is thereby locked shut until another coin is inserted.

It will be apparent from the description of the operating circuit that the chair may be used as an ordinary shine chair simply by opening master switch 5| while the cover 20 is latched in its open position. With switch 5| open, the movement of customers into and out of the chair will have no efiect on the latches and the motor due to the fact that no current will be supplied to the circuit for operating these elements.

It is obvious that we have described and illustrated a simple and foolproof chair and operat-.

ing mechanism. Itshould be borne in mind, however, that we have described only a preferred embodiment of our invention susceptible of other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A chair comprising a seat, a cover for the seat, and mechanism mounting said cover for movement between a closed position in which it prevents access to said seat and an open position in which said cover serves as a back rest for the occupant of the chair, a reversible electric motor operable to move said cover between said positions, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said motor in eitherdirection, coin controlled switch means in said circuit for controlpositions, electrically driven ling operation of said motor in one direction to move said cover from said closed position to said open position, and switch means in said circuit and positioned in portions of said chair contacted deenergizing said motor as tion of said motor in the opposite direction for movement of said cover from said open position to said closed position during occupancy of the chair. 1

2. A chair as set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided for latching said cover in said open and closed positions.

3. A chair as set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided for latching said cover in said open and closed positions and in which said motor control circuit includes means for renderin said latching means inoperative.

4. A chair comprising a seat, a cover for the seat, and mechanism for mounting said cover for movement between a closed position in which it prevents access to said seat and an open position in which said cover serves as a back rest for the occupant of the chair, -a reversible electric motor, means operatively connected to said cover and operable by rotation of said motor in one direction for moving said cover from closed to open position and operable by rotation of said motor in the opposite direction for moving said cover from open to closed position, electric controlling circuits for said motor, latches for maintaining'said cover in said open and closed positions, and electric means in said circuits for rendering inoperative the latching means maintaining the cover in closed position concurrently with operation of said motor to open said cover and for rendering inoperative the latching means maintaining the cover in open position concurrently with operation of said motor to close said cover.

5. A chair comprising a seat, a cover for the seat, and mechanism mounting said cover for movement between a closed position in which it prevents access to said seat and an open position in which said cover serves as a back rest for the occupant of the chair, a reversible electric motor, means operatively connected to said cover and operable by said motor for moving said cover between said positions, an electric circuit for operating said motor in one direction to close said cover, an electric circuit for operating said motor in the opposite direction to open said cover, and switch means operable by said cover for disabling said cover opening circuit when said cover is in said open position and for disabling said cover closing circuit when said cover i in its closed position.

6. A chair comprising a seat, a seat access controlling member movable between a closed position blocking access to the seat and an open position permitting access to the seat, retaining means for holding said member in each of said power means for moving said member between said positions, a control circuit for said power means, switch means in said circuit and positioned in portions of the chair contacted by an occupant for rendering said power means inoperative as long as the chair is occupied, and means in said control circuit for rendering said retaining means inoperative. JEFFERSON D. FOWLER. RALPH A. VAUGHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS 

